Filinvest invests in digital infrastructure, green technologies

FDC and FLI president Josephine Gotianun-Yap. INQUIRER file photo

Gotianun-led Filinvest group seeks to accelerate investments in digital infrastructure and green technologies to future-proof various core businesses, especially during this state of public health emergency.

“We have always viewed digital and the new eco-friendly technology to be the way of the future. This pandemic only accelerated digital adoption, making it imperative to transform our processes to operate effectively. Moving forward, we want to leverage tech as much as possible in transforming our business and engaging with our customers and partners,” Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) president and chief executive officer Josephine Gotianun-Yap said in a press statement.

“We are facing unprecedented times and we are sensitive that this disruption has changed our customers’ and stakeholders’ needs and preferences,” she said.

FDC’s banking arm, EastWest Bank, recently entered the digital banking race with the launch of all-digital banking platform, Komo.

Filinvest City, the group’s premier satellite city in Alabang Muntinlupa, is currently rolling out its digital infrastructure. The goal is to deploy an intelligent network of connected devices to receive, analyze and manage data to improve the quality of life for its locators and visitors. This also includes deployment of alternative and sustainable mobility solutions.

To contribute to reduction of carbon footprint, FDC has also invested in eco-friendly industries in partnership with international experts.

“We leverage on the new and proven technologies of our partners who are leaders in their respective fields,” added Yap.

The group’s 12,000-ton refrigerant district cooling system (DCS) plant in Alabang, the largest in the Philippines, was built in partnership with world leader Engie. The DCS services Filinvest Land’s 19 buildings in Northgate Cyberzone.

This DCS was described as a “safe and environmentally-sound” system with strict emission controls – one that’s able to reduce emission of greenhouse gas that causes global warming. Plans are underway to build additional DCS systems in Clark Mimosa Plus and Activa Cubao Complex.

Filinvest has also invested in a solar roof panel venture with Engie. It has likewise tapped new technology in desalinated, recycled and waste water treatment, in partnership with Hitachi Aqua Tech.

Furthermore, the group is investing in emerging technology-driven business opportunities through its own digital foundry, f(dev). This unit seeks to capitalize on the group’s infrastructure and capabilities as “input” and create new tech-driven business models as “output.” The goal is to build digital ecosystems with large- scale impact among underserved markets in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the process of buying and selling properties at Filinvest Land has changed dramatically with the need for social distancing. Sellers are now provided with online inventory management, digitized materials and drone-assisted recordings, enabling them to conduct virtual reality tours of the projects and model units.

With its recent partnership with Silicon Valley-based global innovation platform, Plug and Play, the Filinvest group also aims to accelerate digital innovations across its various businesses and properties.

Plug and Play has built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services and an in-house venture capital. Since its inception in 2006, it has expanded over 20 locations globally, giving startups resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond.

With over 10,000 startups and 300 official corporate partners, Plug and Play has created a start-up ecosystem in many industries. Companies in its community has raised over $7 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits, including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club and PayPal.